Sometimes even the most simple self-care tasks can feel hard – making a nutritious meal, working out, managing your stress – it’s a lot to manage. I’m a mom to five, wife, friend, sister, and business owner. Somewhere in the mix, I learned to take care of others before myself which has been to my detriment on occasion. I know I’m not alone! Thanks to social media, it’s clear that this is a widespread problem amongst women. It has become really important to me to take care of myself so that I’m the best version of myself to show up for my loved ones.
I haven’t gotten it all figured out, but I do have what I like to call my “baseline”. My baseline means that I’m eating nutritious meals, I’m incorporating some type of movement into my week, and I’m managing my stress as much as I can. When those things are taken care of, life just seems a little bit easier. One of the ways I’m doing that is by adding Athletic Greens into my day.
This is my honest review.
AG1 $99
From superfoods and probiotics to vitamins and minerals, Athletic Greens is your one-stop-shop when it comes to nutritional supplements.
What is Athletic Greens?
As someone with some pretty poor eating habits, the nutritional value this product offers was a huge draw for me. I was eager to see if such a simple product might make up for the nutrients I’m missing in my daily diet. Because of the product name, I mistakenly thought that it could be a replacement for vegetables—it’s not. But it did reap some small benefits.
To start, let’s break down Athletic Greens’ history. Founded in 2010, Athletic Greens is most known for its flagship product, AG1. The greens powder combines vitamins, minerals, and nutrients designed to promote gut health, support immunity, boost energy, and help you recover faster from workouts and physical activity.
According to CEO Chris Ashenden, the brand’s focus is on “foundational nutrition.” I assume this speaks to the product’s role in supplementing a healthy lifestyle, helping to fill the nutritional needs our everyday diet might not satisfy.
Athletic Greens powder, called AG1, is such an attractive product is how nutrient-dense it is. The formula includes over 75 vitamins and minerals as well as prebiotics and probiotics. The full list of ingredients ranges from spirulina and apple powder to spinach leaf powder and pea protein. Even with so many ingredients, the product is vegetarian, vegan, paleo, and keto-friendly, has no GMOs, artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives, and is gluten-free.
How is AG1 different from other greens powders?
While I’m referring to the supplement as a greens powder throughout this article, Athletic Greens is adamant about being much more than simply a substitute for your dark leafy greens. The recommended daily serving—a single scoop—supplies:
- vitamins and minerals to support immune health and strengthen your nervous system
- prebiotics and probiotics to provide digestive support
- superfood-derived phytonutrients that support the microbiome
- immune-supporting mushrooms
- adaptogenic herbs and antioxidants to relieve stress and provide metabolic and energy support
The product contains vitamins like riboflavin (B2), thiamine (B1), and various others (like A, B6, C, E, and K2); minerals like magnesium, potassium, and zinc; whole food-sourced nutrients such as carrots, wheatgrass, and spirulina; probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus; and adaptogens like ashwagandha, chlorella, and reishi mushrooms.
Plus, if you don’t want to add it to water, you have several other options — you can add the powder to your smoothie or smoothie bowl, sprinkle it on your yogurt or fruit bowl, or cook with it.
My AG1 ritual
AG1 is pricey. I purchased the single, 30-day subscription for $79. With your order, you get a month’s supply of AG1, a storage jar and shaker, and five “free” travel packs. On top of that, my shipping cost was $9. While it might not seem like much, I had to grit my teeth in this heyday of free shipping. Thankfully, you can cancel your subscription anytime, so the commitment was relatively minimal.
I set out to see how AG1 would fare with my already-established everyday routine. That meant aiming for the same amount of sleep, and not making any major changes to my diet. While my week on AG1 was by no means a deeply scientific study, I wanted to know if I would feel any different by simply adding the supplement to my everyday habits.
Another great aspect of AG1 is that it is so easy to make. I was grateful for that because it wasn’t a chore or a big disruption to my daily routine.
Day 1
As suggested, AG1 was the first thing I consumed in the morning. Before my coffee and oats, I mixed a scoop of AG1 with eight ounces of water. My package came with a branded wide-mouth water bottle exclusively designed for getting my greens in liquid form. After securing and shaking the bottle, I undid the lid to uncover a frothy, mossy green beverage.
Hesitant but curious to consume the grass-like flavor reviews claimed, I took a sip. My first thought? There’s no way I’m finishing this. IMO, the taste was a little bitter. All in all, it took me about two hours to finish the whole thing (baby sips, folks).
I carried on with my normal routine as planned. Because this was my first day, I didn’t notice any shift in my energy or how I felt overall. My main takeaway from the kick-off of my experiment was: How the heck am I going to make it through this week?
Day 2
I woke up feeling a little more determined to discover the crave-worthy flavor of AG1 that everyone’s been touting. Adopting a different approach, I shook up my scoop with water and ice. That drop in temperature made a significant difference. When I drank the AG1 this time, it had a clearer, crisper flavor and mouthfeel. It was less sludgy than the day before. (Though I swear, I shook it as hard as I could.)
Feeling like a wellness girly, I plopped my AG1 down next to my laptop as I started my day sifting through my inbox. Though the placebo effect was obviously at play, something about having that green bottle next to me made me feel a bit more productive. There are worse things.
Day 3
At the tail-end of my period today, I woke up and noticed that my skin was significantly clearer than it had been the day prior. It was brighter than it usually is at this point in my cycle. I went to the kitchen, shook up my AG1, and found that I was already beginning to get used to the flavor. My initial impression was that of a slightly thinner green juice. It felt like the flavor had been engineered to mask something particularly unsavory. But I was coming around to it. At this point, I may have even liked it.
That morning, I texted a few friends who had tried Athletic Greens. They confirmed that the taste takes a little getting used to. For most, they began to look forward to their daily dose of AG1 between their third and seventh day—props to me for being on the early end.
Day 4
Athletic Greens’ Instagram is full of ideas for consuming their product beyond the ol’ H20 standby. So, I tried their ultimate summer smoothie bowl recipe to mix things up halfway through my trial. I found that the previously offending flavor was completely masked by adding almond butter, banana, apple, dates, and oat milk. I could see this becoming a go-to breakfast. And while the blood-sugar-balancing enthusiasts might protest this smoothie’s glucose overload, pairing your fruits with the almond butter’s healthy fats is a solid way to mitigate the spike.
This was the first day I noticed a subtle physiological change. I had more energy during my afternoon barre errands and—day five spoiler—wasn’t at all sluggish when I woke up the next day.
Day 5
The wake-up this morning was one of the best I can recount in recent history. With little effort, I got up immediately to my 8:00 a.m. alarm and went straight into a brief meditation. I would consider myself a semi-morning person, so this level of alertness was out of the ordinary. Mentally, I felt sharp, aligned, and motivated to transition to my to-do list.
I made the same AG1-infused smoothie as I did the day before and discovered an additional burst of energy after finishing my glass. I made it through my morning to-dos while staying on-task and focused. Thanks, AG1.
Day 6
While my wake-up call wasn’t as miraculous as yesterday’s, I did sleep soundly and awoke feeling rested. Craving my usual savory breakfast (a slice of vegan avocado toast with delicious oats), I opted for AG1 and ice water. Interestingly, it took until today to notice that my craving for a second mid-morning coffee had disappeared entirely. Instead, my single cup sufficed in terms of both my energy levels and feeling satiated post-breakfast.
I often fall victim to the dreaded 3 p.m. slump, but today, I managed to push through all my end-of-day tasks and even enjoyed a 45-minute yoga session. To say that my energy levels stayed steady throughout the day would be an understatement. I’m not an evangelist of wellness (meditation aside), but when something solves my dwindling energy, I have to shout it from the rooftops. I noticed an easy wind-down after dinner and was able to fall asleep quickly and soundly. That’s a lot to be said for someone who deals with occasional bouts of insomnia.
Day 7
I started this journey unsure of how I’d make it to this point. In hindsight, however, things turned out for the better on day three. By now, my daily rhythms came to expect the AG1 before all else, and I have to admit: Something is comforting and ritualistic about sipping on it first thing.
While I said I wouldn’t make any significant changes to my diet, I did notice that the supplement naturally inspired me to make nutrient-dense choices. I kept up a consistent pattern of greens throughout the day: a protein-packed salad for lunch, a green smoothie for a snack, and a tall pile of spinach to accompany that night’s meal. Something about doing good things for my body in the morning inspired me to keep up the momentum all day long. Can AG1 inspire a mindset shift? The correlation likely isn’t strong enough to call it fact, but after a week on the greens powder, I can confirm with confidence: The results I saw this week were enough to keep me going.
The takeaway
I still have about 20 servings left in my first shipment of AG1, and I will see it through to the end. Admittedly, a week isn’t enough time to feel the long-term benefits build up. Of course, the price point marks a steep barrier to entry, and as many nutritionists will confirm, you don’t need a fancy supplement to meet your daily requirements for vitamins and minerals. But with the positive results I experienced, I can confirm that it’s worth the hype.
As someone looking to improve their eating habits, I’m glad I tried AG1. Ultimately, this is a convenient product that played into my brain’s positive reward centers—and that’s not a bad thing! The routine of prepping AG1 each morning before breakfast (or as a part of my morning meal) signaled that I was doing something good for my body. It helped set the foundation for those habits to continue throughout the day. A transformed perspective and more energy? That’s what we like to call a win-win.
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